A TEAM of Manchester scientists are using radio waves to help give drinkers a perfect pint.

Kaiku, has developed a method of ensuring the quality of food and drink that they believe could save manufacturers millions.

And starting this week, the technology is being piloted by Scottish and Newcastle at the Royal Brewery, on Princess Road, Moss Side, Manchester.

The system is already being tested by some of the major names in the industry including Scottish and Newcastle, Britvic, and producers of Lucozade and Ribena, Glaxo Smith Kline.

By introducing a length of "intelligent pipe" into a canning, bottling or production plant, Kaiku bosses say quality can be ensured and contamination can be eliminated. Radio waves are transmitted through the fluid in the pipe and analysed as they emerge.

If their frequency deviates from a calibrated benchmark, it means the food or drink has changed and the process can be halted immediately.

Quality time

Dr Richard Dowdeswell, technical director of fluid analysis specialist Kaiku, explains that the technology is aimed both at making sure the product is pure and saving valuable time.

"If a drink becomes contaminated at a canning or bottling plant it may be several days before its discovered and if a product recall is necessary then it can cost millions," he said.

"Also, if a plant cleans out its lines every two or three days with caustic soda or bleach then it's necessary to flush the lines clear afterwards.

"This takes valuable time and our system can tell the plant operators the exact moment when that's done.

"If your processing 25 cans a second, saving 10 minutes every two or three days on a clean down can equate to a lot of money."

In December, Boddingtons had to recall 30,000 cans of bitter after it was contaminated in a storage tank that hadn't been flushed properly after cleaning.

As a result, Kaiku is in talks with Boddingtons' owners Interbrew about introducing their technology to prevent a reoccurrence.

Last year the Duke of York visited Kaiku's laboratory during a visit to Manchester Science Park, Hulme, to support the work done by British Trade International, which encourages foreign investment and helps UK companies trading internationally.